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GOV. OKOWA’S COMMISSIONER BOLTS AWAY WITH N3 BILLION RELEASED BY WORLD BANK TO USE FOR 2019 ELECTIONS

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The rot in the Delta State Government of Mr Ifeanyi Okowa has spread its tentacles to the Ministry of Women Affairs, with the Governor turning a blind eye according to information reaching us. Documents in the possession of our newspaper detailed how the Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mrs Omatsola Williams has turned the place into her conquered kingdom, embezzling funds at will. Multiple sources within the official complex confirmed that the sum of N3 billion released to her by State Employment and Expenditure for Results Project (SEEFOR) has allegedly been embezzled by the Commissioner.

According to our sources, the World Bank had released N3 billion to an arm of SEEFOR and it was in the control of Mrs. Omatsola Williams. The released fund was meant for the development of some Itsekiri communities. But as common with Nigerian politicians, Omatsola Williams and one of her ally, Mrs. Akowhoarehor Orubu seized the money and diverted the money to private purse. Investigations by SOCIETY REPORTERS revealed that Omatsola and Orubu have been embezzling the SEEFOR money for three years now, with no SEEFOR project in sight, in any of the three Warri Local Government Areas with about N500 Million embezzled from the project funds. Every letter written to the State Governor by staff complaining of this unholy act ended up in the dustbin, narrated a powerful source within the government. According to the source, the money allegedly embezzled by the Commissioner is being kept faraway to use for the election of 2019 in the Warri axis, which the government considers as politically problematic. Our reporters could not verify independently if Mr Okowa is aware that these lump of money has been diverted to fight his electoral battles instead of using it for its original purpose. Aside from her alleged looting spree, Omotsola also committed an act of Injustice to one Mrs Constance Aboyowa who is now late. The deceased until her death was the breadwinner of her family, since her husband lost his job in the banking sector.

For reasons best known to her, Mrs. Omatsola posted the woman to Burutu LGA, away from her family, which prompted the husband to go pleading to the Commissioner to reconsider this decision and at least post the wife to somewhere closer to home, which she adamantly refused. Compelled by this, the husband went borrowing for money to rent an apartment for his wife in Burutu so she could resume work. However, one month later, Omatsola posted Constance again; this time to Oghara in Ethiope West. And again, the husband went begging but she refused. Due to the accommodation problem in Oghara, Constance could not go to work for a week. Disturbed by these incessant postings, Constance wrote a letter to the Head of Service who is from the Ijaw tribe to use his powers and influence Omatsola’s decisions. In response, the Head of Service wrote to Omatsola, ordering that the posting be reverted since it is against civil service rules to post a civil servant to two different locations within one month. Omatsola Williams refused and stopped the salary of the deceased, which led to her being sick out of frustration. She lost blood and had no money to pay for the three pints of blood as requested by the doctor. She couldn’t get the money for treatment and died as a result. The strings of events have led the husband of the deceased to take comfort in drinking and he is now a drunkard in Asaba. When our reporter called the Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah to get the government side of this story, his phone rang endlessly but was not answered.

News and Report

Organiser unveils speakers, panelists for the 2024 Industry Summit

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The organiser of the Industry Summit, an annual gathering for professionals and experts in brand marketing, finance, sustainability, and entertainment, has announced the speakers for the fifth edition of the summit in Lagos.

 

 

 

The event themed: Sustainable Marketing for Growth would feature the marketing director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Oriakhi as keynote speaker while the head of unit, sustainability at Access Bank, Mrs. Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan and manager brand, strategy & communications at Stanbic IBTC, Ms. Rita Akao would feature as guest speakers.

 

 

 

The summit, which is scheduled to hold on Friday, May 3rd, 2024 at the Marcelina’s Place Ikeja GRA, Lagos would feature some exhilarating panel sessions with some of the contemporary professionals in the Nigerian brand and marketing industry.

 

 

 

The panelists include; Ms. Chioma Mbanugo, Head of Marketing PZWILMAR, Mr. Abiodun Coker, Team Member Media, UBA, Mrs. Mabel Adeteye, Head, Brand & Marketing Communications, Wema Bank PLC, Mr. Kevin Olumese, Marketing Communications Specialist, and Mr. Adeola Kayode, Head, Brands & Creative Services, 9mobile Nigeria.

 

 

 

Others who have confirmed participation are Ms. Aisha Anaekwe, Head, Brands & Comms, Coronation Group, Mrs. Victoria N’dee Uwadoka, Public Relations, Public Affairs & Sustainability Lead, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Samson Adeoye, Public Relations Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Mrs. Oluwatosin Odiagbe, Marketing Manager, Simba Solar and Ms. Arinola Shobande, Head of Marketing, Showmax.

 

 

 

While Oriakhi would be speaking to the topic, ““New Age Marketing – Catalyzing Transformation Through Value Chain Innovation, Technology, Analytics & Sustainability”, Victor-Laniyan and Akao would present papers on the topics; “Aligning organizational objectives with sustainable marketing for the good of the people, society and business, and “Reimagining Sustainable Growth Through Green Marketing” respectively.

 

 

 

In the press statement signed by the Publisher of The Industry Newspaper/Convener of The Industry Summit/Awards (TIES), Mr. Goddie Ofose, he said that “The 5th edition of the Industry Summit is focusing on sustainable marketing, which is a purpose-driven practice that works to orientate businesses, brands and society towards a sustainable future, influencing appropriate awareness, aspiration, adoption and action across economic and sociocultural systems by taking necessary accountability for its impacts and opportunities.”

 

 

 

“In today’s ever-evolving world, debating whether to incorporate sustainability into business strategy is no longer an option. Considering a values-driven approach when developing business strategies can be vital to long-term success” he said.

 

 

 

Therefore, we have carefully selected these professionals and experts to deliberate on the subject matter, highlight challenges and proffer solutions where private and public sectors could take lessons from and improve upon whatever they have been doing,’ Ofose added.

 

 

 

The Industry Summit/Awards is a brainchild of The Industry Newspaper Limited, publishers of The Industry Newspaper (theindustry.ng) and 789marketing.ng.

 

 

 

The summit is designed to bring together industry leaders across the continent in all sectors in the quest to rev up conversations that will move the Nigeria business, economy and communication industry forward.

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IBEDC records 1,459 energy theft cases in January, February

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company said it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.

IBEDC added that it is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.

Identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The statement read, “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.

“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”

Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment stressing, “In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.”

IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.

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Copyright Breach: NCC Drags MTN, Others To Court Over Musician’s Works

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was obtained by journalists on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the four other defendants in the case include the chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd.; and Yahaya Maibe.

In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artiste, Maleke Idowu Moye, without his consent and authorisation.

The commission alleged that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Mr Maleke with subsisting copyright as caller ringback tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musician’s musical works and sound recordings allegedly infringed upon included 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the musical works to their subscribers without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged to have in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the artiste’s musical works and sound recordings.

According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The case has yet to be assigned to any judge, and no date has been fixed for the mention.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by any of the defendants as at the time of filing this report, while all efforts to get reactions from MTN by New Telegraph proved abortive.

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